Abstract: Method of knock control in multicylinder internal combustion engines, with one knock sensor being provided for a group of cylinders, and with a control unit determining and outputting the control quantities for the ignition of the individual cylinders on a selective basis for the cylinders. At least one cylinder, preferably the cylinder(s) sensed best by the knock sensor, is/are selected as the lead cylinder. A knocking event in a lead cylinder causes a retard in the firing for all cylinders of the group, while a knocking event in one of the other cylinders causes a retard in only this one cylinder.

Abstract: An apparatus for cylinder recognition in an internal combustion engine is described, in which the individual-cylinder rpm fluctuations or variables dependent on them are first stored in memory and then, when the engine is restarted, compared with the rpm fluctuations that result at that time. From the results of the comparison obtained, a cylinder recognition can be performed. Particularly in conjunction with engines in which engine roughness detection is performed, the cylinder recognition can be done on the basis of adaptation values for the engine roughness detection.

Abstract: A method for the adaptive knock control of an internal combustion engine serves for shifting the ignition angle of an internal combustion engine in the retard direction when knocking occurs and for subsequently carrying out a return of the ignition angle in the advance direction. At the same time, the internal combustion engine is to have sub-divided operating ranges, and a value of an ignition-angle retard, determined in a range during operation, is always stored when this range is left. At the same time, in particular an average of all the ignition angles outputted in a range or a retard value plotted by a digital low-pass filter is to be stored.

Abstract: A method for recognizing a power stroke of each cylinder in a four-stroke engine calls for sensing a parameter of a cylinder in the engine for producing a signal of the parameter, the parameter being selected from the group consisting of pressure and knocking, and comparing the signal with a threshold value for determining whether the signal exceeds the threshold value and thereby is indicative of the cylinder being in a corresponding combustion stroke. In addition to sensing the pressure and knocking of the cylinder, sensing of sound signals from the cylinder is also employed in order to determine power and intake strokes of the cylinders.

Abstract: A knock sensor for indirect or direct fixing to an internal combustion engine has a housing (10) with a pressure sleeve (11) on the outer side of which a piezoceramic disk, a seismic mass (16), the contact disks (14), and the insulating disks (13) are arranged. The insulating disks (13) or the piezoelectrical disk (15) are or is made slightly electrically conductive so that the voltage spikes which occur due to the pyroelectrical effect can be easily eliminated. In this way, faulty measuring and interference can be avoided in the electrical circuit connected to the knock sensor.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for checking the operability of a conduit system conducting a fluid flow. The conduit system is for an internal combustion engine and utilizes two fluids having temperatures which are different from each other. In this way, it is possible to set quite well-defined measuring conditions. The fluid flow in the conduit system to be checked is coupled to the temperature sensor in such a manner that the temperature thereof changes with a relatively steep gradient when, starting at a specific time point, the above-mentioned fluid operates to warm the temperature sensor. When the magnitude of the gradient remains below a threshold value, the conduit system checked is evaluated to be operational. The measurement is reliable even though it requires only a single temperature sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for monitoring the operability of a heater of an oxygen-measuring probe which is mounted in the exhaust-gas channel of an internal combustion engine. The principle of operation of the invention is based on the fact that the supply voltage of the probe heater drops during loading by the electrical resistance of the heating element. The voltage difference is dependent upon the magnitude of the resistance and therefore at least the three states can be distinguished, namely: normal operation, circuit interruption and short circuit. The operational state of the probe heater which is so determined is displayed to the driver by activation of a corresponding control unit and/or is stored, as required, in a fault memory. The arrangement according to the invention can be realized by a computer or in a compact configuration and is suitable for use in a central control apparatus.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement for controlling an actuable element in a motor vehicle equipped with a drive unit.

Abstract: A process for controlling knocking of an internal combustion engine comprises the steps of retarding an ignition angle when a cylinder knocks, resetting the ignition angle by adjusting in the direction of "advance", storing prevailing ignition angle retardation values in an adaptation characteristic diagram which, depending on a size of operating parameters of the internal combustion engine, has subdivided ranges, with one value of an ignition angle retardation determined during operation in an appropriate range and particularly on leaving this range, always being stored, setting the value of the ignition angle retardation as stored for a particular range on changing into this range, and on changing the range, resetting the ignition angle with increased advance adjustment speed until knocking occurs in this range or until a predetermined value of the ignition angle is reached.

Abstract: The method for closed-loop knock control of a internal combustion engine, includes retarding the ignition angle when at least one cylinder knocks and then resetting the ignition angle at a later time. For internal combustion engines with a turbocharger, the method also includes reducing the boost pressure when an ignition-angle limiting value dependent on an exhaust gas temperature is reached, and then increasing the boost pressure again as soon as the ignition-angle limiting value is again crossed due to resetting of the ignition angle. The ignition angle and boost pressure values established are stored as a function of the respective operating condition of the internal combustion engine for adaptive process control and used as starting values when the same engine operating conditions are again reached.

Abstract: A method of and a device for monitoring combustion in a spark ignition internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber and a discharge system wherein a discharge voltage is monitored for determining whether combustion in the combustion chamber takes place.

Abstract: A method for recognition of the power stroke of an internal combustion engine is proposed, in which recognition as to whether a cylinder is currently in the power stroke is possible by means of camparison of a signal that is synchronous with the crankshaft angle and a signal that is modulated by the combustion events of the engine.

Abstract: A first control unit of a multiple function control system for a motor vehicle engine controls a function, such as fuel injection, for which it is desirable to provide an engine load signal measured by the amount of air drawn or forced into the engine per unit of time, determined by what is generally known as an air quantity meter. A second control unit of the control system controls the timing of an electrical ignition system for which it has been conventional to supply an engine load signal derived from a pressure transducer.

Abstract: Control of a microcomputer performing a wide variety of functions in a motor vehicle in which the sequences of input and output signals intersect in time, instead of being performed by an elaborate input/output unit, is performed in the microcomputer itself with the help of a timing signal generator operating at a sub-multiple of the microcomputer clock frequency and producing a sequence of timing signals, each of which serve as an interrupt signal to the microprocessor of the microcomputer to initiate an interrupt program for scanning inputs and preparing outputs. After this short interrupt program, the main program is resumed. In the interrupt program each of a number of registers, respectively serving separate inputs or outputs, are decremented or incremented, having been set at particular values at the beginning of each interrupt program. Some registers are set at two different values in alternation in succeeding interrupt intervals.

Abstract: To provide for adaptive change of the operating characteristics of an engine, so that it will operate at its optimum effectiveness, just below the knocking limit, while reliably preventing knocking thereof, a computer receives engine data from respective sensors and a knock sensor (5), from which the computer calculates, based on data stored in a memory (3), operating parameters for the engine (1). The engine is, for example, an Otto-type internal combustion engine (ICE) or a Diesel engine. The operating characteristics, as computer-modified based on sensed knocking, and the modification data, are then placed into the memory to modify the basic memory content. Preferably, the memory has a basic memory content section and a programmable differential or modification section, in which algebraic constants or modifying factors are stored, based on actual experience of operation of the engine, just under the knocking limit.

Abstract: To prevent slow reestablishment of operating conditions which might lead to knocking of an internal combustion engine if the internal combustion engine operates under transient conditions, for example under conditions of rapid acceleration, the reestablishment rate of an operating control signal, for example ignition timing which, after retardation, is again advanced, transient speed changes are sensed in a differentiator (17) and, if so sensed, cause reestablishment of prior operating condition at a faster rate (f3) than otherwise, normally set into the system (see f2, FIG. 2). Additionally, the reference level of a comparator which compares sensed engine vibration signals with a reference can be increased so that, due to increased engine noise, erroneous knocking signals will not be generated by the comparator.

Abstract: A cyclical input signal for the microcomputer of a motor vehicle is caused to reset the microcomputer for avoiding persistence of errors. Another portion of the same periodic signal can advantageously be furnished to the external interrupt input of the microcomputer.

Abstract: To recognize knocking conditions in signals derived from a knock sensor, which signals representative of knocking may be masked by background or noise signals, and to clearly distinguish the knocking signal from background or noise signals, the knocking signals are integrated with respect to measuring or strobing intervals during a predetermined angle of crankshaft rotation, digitized in an A/D converter (7) and then compared in a comparator (9) with the same signals which have been passed through a low-pass digital filter (8) to compare the integrated, digitized signal of a then occurring combustion process or event with similar signals of prior combustion processes or events to thereby recognize and distinguish knocking signal conditions from noise signal conditions; digital filtering and comparison as well as sequence timing can be carried out in a single microprocessor (FIGS.

Abstract: A knocking sensor (10) which provides output signals representative of combustion condition under knocking to thereby generate knocking signals which have mixed therewith noise or stray interference signals, and which also furnishes noise or stray interference signals under other than knocking combustion conditions, has its output connected to a plurality of parallel connected selective filters (2, 3). The filters have different pass band frequencies. One of the filters (3) is tuned to sense knocking frequencies, one or more other filters (2) being tuned to preferentially select noise or interference signals.

Abstract: To provide a signal representative of angular crankshaft position from an ignition distributor, independently of change of ignition timing, the ignition distributor includes a further or additional rotating transducer system (8, 9, 10, 11), for example a rotating disk (8) positively coupled to the shaft (3) of the distributor. The disk (8) carries markers (10) which are picked up by an optic, magnetic (Hall generator) or inductive pick-up (9). To provide a reference marker output, for example a reference, e.g. TDC position of a reference piston, the rotating disk (8) can carry an additional reference marker (10a) picked up by a reference pick-up (9a) which can be similar to the other pick-ups used in the construction. The specific crankshaft position signals are especially suitable and desirable if the engine is coupled to an engine knock sensing and knock prevention system (KS).